Everton U18s come back to draw with Manchester City

Michael Kenrick Saturday, 21 August, 2021 19comments | Jump to most recent

Everton U18s 1 - 1 Manchester City U18s

Everton U18s take on Manchester City at Finch Farm today.

The Citizens finished top of the U18 Premier League (North Division) last season and went on to defeat Fulham in the National Final last May. Although the highlight for Everton youngsters last season was a fantastic FA Youth Cup 4th Round triumph over Manchester City with a 97th-minute winner from Luke Butterfield back in April.

The task today will likely be just as hard; it's been 4 years since Everton U18s last won this fixture, and that was quite a game where the Royal Blues came out on top with 5 goals to 3, Anthony Gordon scoring 2 of those goals.

Kick-off today is at 11 am, with a new name added on the bench: Johnson Opawale.

Much of the early play saw each side trying to establish control, with the visitors doing better in terms of possession and providing some good tests for the Everton defence, where Mathew Mallon excelled. He even got forward to cross well, winning Everton's first corner.

City went ahead from the penalty spot just before the half-hour after Campbell had brought a player down on the right side of the penalty area. And that's how the score stayed through half-time.

Everton made a couple of changes just after the hour mark and were able to draw level against the run of play on 77 minutes when great work by Issac Hatch saw Coughlan feed a nice through ball that Martin Sherif converted.

Everton came very close to winning it after Sherif fought hard to win a long clearance and it looked like the ball was bobbling into the goal when it was cleared off the line by a City defender.

City won a dangerous free-kick in the last minute, but it was easy pickings for Jak Stewart in the Everton goal, and a good result against the U18 Champions.

Everton U18s: Stewart, Campbell, Mallon [Y:91'], Tierney, Metcalfe, Wilson, Jagne (61' Coughlan), Apter (62' Ebere (79' Smikle-James)), Heath, Manafa, Sherif.
Subs not Used: Jensen, Opawole

Reader Comments (19)

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Michael Kenrick
1 Posted 21/08/2021 at 11:09:52

Sorry, only just found this:

The Everton U18s v Man City match is Live on Man City website, it's of course £2 for the month [remember to cancel your subscription right away or you will get charged after that month], or free if its the 1st time you have used City TV.

Michael Kenrick
2 Posted 21/08/2021 at 11:32:51

Reasonable contest with City dominating possession and going ahead through a penalty.

Phill Thompson
3 Posted 21/08/2021 at 11:55:53

I missed the kick off, figured out our numbers now. Yeah despite City having most of the possession, as they usually do, we're keeping in the game. Interesting catching some of these players for the first time.

0-1 half time.

Phill Thompson
4 Posted 21/08/2021 at 11:59:47

Jensen schoolboy goalkeeper on the bench for the first time. Haven't a clue who Opawole is, presumably another schoolboy along with Ebere on bench and Sherif and Apte on the pitch.

Danny Oâ€™Neill
5 Posted 21/08/2021 at 12:18:43

Is this not available on the Everton website if you're a member? I can't find it.

Phill Thompson
6 Posted 21/08/2021 at 12:30:15

Danny, nope, pathetic as usual from us re showing these games.

Michael Kenrick
7 Posted 21/08/2021 at 12:31:39

Oh Danny boy... wouldn't that be nice.

Just think: Everton, a big club, make available to their enthusiastic and knowledgable supporters live streaming coverage of Academy Development games... now wouldn't that be just marvellous?

No, we're too busy doing charity work and dwelling forever over the dead and gone, to the point where we put up a photo of Anne Frank, much to the puzzlement, derision and horror of virtue signallers all over the internet...

Call ourselves a football club?

Phill Thompson
8 Posted 21/08/2021 at 12:32:06

Ebere and Sam Coughlan on for Apter and Jagne. Michael, at least I can pick out Coughlan now in that photo the other day.

Better from us last few minutes.

Michael Kenrick
9 Posted 21/08/2021 at 12:33:10

Ah, I'd forgotten about that... which one is he, Phill?

Got a good close-up of him just then, taking that throw-in.

Phill Thompson
10 Posted 21/08/2021 at 12:37:08

Yeah, great move goal tucked away by Sherif 1-1

Danny Oâ€™Neill
11 Posted 21/08/2021 at 12:37:47

Well in some ways, glad it wasn't me being technically challenged. But agree, why wouldn't they stream this for supporters. And personally, for the U18s and U23s, it shouldn't be restricted to paying members.

Thanks Phil / Michael, I'll keep an eye on this thread to see how they're getting on.

Michael Kenrick
12 Posted 21/08/2021 at 12:38:12

GOAL!!

Great work by Issac Heath to steal it from the keeper, Coughlan played in a good ball and Sherif finished it with a neat clip.

Michael Kenrick
13 Posted 21/08/2021 at 12:39:47

Good game now, into the last 10 minutes, City pride on the line, good defensive test for the Royal Blues.

Phill Thompson
14 Posted 21/08/2021 at 12:43:25

I't looks like 17 Smikle-James has come on for Ebere, not confirmed though.

Phill Thompson
15 Posted 21/08/2021 at 12:45:46

Wow goal line clearances from City, Heath hitting post and also nearly tapping in. Lively!

Phill Thompson
16 Posted 21/08/2021 at 13:07:28

Final score 1-1 after about 10 mins injury time. A well deserved point there against a talented City team. Great to see some of these players for the first time. Jenson Metcalfe was my man of match for us, thought he had a great game in midfield. Martin Sherif playing 9 looks a real handful, big, strong, a bit of pace and still only a School boy. Tierney looked good at centre back, , Mallon decent going forward at right back.

Danny Oâ€™Neill
17 Posted 21/08/2021 at 13:21:12

Thanks for the commentary Phill.

Tierney's name seems to be featuring a bit on these reports.

Phill Thompson
18 Posted 21/08/2021 at 18:44:29

Danny, my first real look at Jack Tierney, though he played a few times towards the end of last season. He's about the same size as Campbell, though Charlie Wilson is taller.

He looks like he can form a good partnership with Eli Campbell, although I believe Wilson is also a centre back so may give them a challenge.

Tierney certainly through his body in to make a number of tackles and blocks. It will be interesting to see how he progresses, and as ever physical size can be a key determiner for young centre-backs.

Trevor Edwards
19 Posted 23/08/2021 at 12:00:21

FYI a couple of lads released by Everton have been taken on as scholars at Fleetwood Town, Harry Clarke and Billy Jones. Fleetwood did quite a decent introduction to all their scholars on their website - something Everton don't seem to have bothered with yet this season.

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